feat: add system tray with quick actions and minimize-to-tray

System tray:
- Always-visible tray icon with context menu
- Quick Scratchpad action from tray (triggers session creation
  via IPC bridge to renderer)
- Running session count in tray tooltip and menu
- Click tray icon to show/focus window
- Quit option in tray menu

Minimize to tray:
- New 'Minimize to tray on close' toggle in Settings > Appearance
- When enabled, closing the window hides to tray instead of
  quitting (configurable per-user, default off)
- macOS: hides dock icon when minimized to tray
- Proper force-quit handling (Cmd+Q on macOS, tray Quit)

Full IPC contract chain:
- minimizeToTray setting in WorkspaceSettings
- setMinimizeToTray channel + ElectronApi method
- Preload bridge, service handler, IPC registration
- Preserved through workspace normalization

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

src/main/AryxAppService.ts

@@ -514,6 +514,12 @@ export class AryxAppService extends EventEmitter<AppServiceEvents> {
     return this.persistAndBroadcast(workspace);
   }
 
+  async setMinimizeToTray(enabled: boolean): Promise<WorkspaceState> {
+    const workspace = await this.loadWorkspace();
+    workspace.settings.minimizeToTray = enabled;
+    return this.persistAndBroadcast(workspace);
+  }
+
   async describeTerminal(): Promise<TerminalSnapshot | undefined> {
     return this.ptyManager.getSnapshot();
   }

src/main/index.ts

@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@ import { registerIpcHandlers } from '@main/ipc/registerIpcHandlers';
 import { AryxAppService } from '@main/AryxAppService';
 import { createMainWindow } from '@main/windows/createMainWindow';
 import { applyTitleBarTheme } from '@main/windows/titleBarTheme';
+import { SystemTray, setupCloseToTray, showAndFocusWindow } from '@main/services/systemTray';
 
 const { app, BrowserWindow } = electron;
 
 let mainWindow: BrowserWindowType | undefined;
 let appService: AryxAppService | undefined;
+let systemTray: SystemTray | undefined;
 
 async function bootstrap(): Promise<void> {
   appService = new AryxAppService();
@@ -21,6 +23,29 @@ async function bootstrap(): Promise<void> {
   const workspace = await appService.loadWorkspace();
   applyTitleBarTheme(mainWindow, workspace.settings.theme);
 
+  // Set up system tray
+  systemTray = new SystemTray({
+    onShowWindow: showAndFocusWindow,
+    onCreateScratchpad: () => {
+      showAndFocusWindow();
+      mainWindow?.webContents.send('tray:create-scratchpad');
+    },
+    onQuit: () => app.quit(),
+  });
+  systemTray.create();
+  systemTray.updateRunningCount(workspace);
+
+  // Intercept close to hide to tray when the setting is enabled
+  setupCloseToTray(mainWindow, () => {
+    const currentWorkspace = appService?.getCachedWorkspace();
+    return currentWorkspace?.settings.minimizeToTray === true;
+  });
+
+  // Keep tray status in sync when workspace changes
+  appService.on('workspace-updated', (updatedWorkspace) => {
+    systemTray?.updateRunningCount(updatedWorkspace);
+  });
+
   if (!app.isPackaged) {
     mainWindow.webContents.openDevTools({ mode: 'detach' });
   }
@@ -29,17 +54,25 @@ async function bootstrap(): Promise<void> {
 app.whenReady().then(bootstrap);
 
 app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
-  if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
-    app.quit();
-  }
+  // When minimize-to-tray is enabled, don't quit on window close
+  if (process.platform === 'darwin') return;
+
+  const windows = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
+  const allHidden = windows.length > 0 && windows.every((w) => !w.isVisible());
+  if (allHidden) return;
+
+  app.quit();
 });
 
 app.on('activate', async () => {
   if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
     await bootstrap();
+  } else {
+    showAndFocusWindow();
   }
 });
 
 app.on('before-quit', async () => {
+  systemTray?.dispose();
   await appService?.dispose();
 });

src/main/ipc/registerIpcHandlers.ts

@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ export function registerIpcHandlers(window: BrowserWindow, service: AryxAppServi
     ipcChannels.setNotificationsEnabled,
     (_event, enabled: boolean) => service.setNotificationsEnabled(enabled),
   );
+  ipcMain.handle(
+    ipcChannels.setMinimizeToTray,
+    (_event, enabled: boolean) => service.setMinimizeToTray(enabled),
+  );
   ipcMain.handle(ipcChannels.saveMcpServer, (_event, input: SaveMcpServerInput) =>
     service.saveMcpServer(input.server),
   );

src/main/services/systemTray.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+import electron from 'electron';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+import type { WorkspaceState } from '@shared/domain/workspace';
+
+const { app, Menu, Tray, nativeImage, BrowserWindow } = electron;
+type TrayType = InstanceType<typeof Tray>;
+type NativeImageType = ReturnType<typeof nativeImage.createFromPath>;
+
+export interface SystemTrayOptions {
+  onShowWindow: () => void;
+  onCreateScratchpad: () => void;
+  onQuit: () => void;
+}
+
+function resolveTrayIcon(): NativeImageType {
+  const basePath = app.getAppPath();
+
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') {
+    return nativeImage.createFromPath(join(basePath, 'assets', 'icons', 'windows', 'icon.ico'));
+  }
+
+  // Use a smaller icon for tray on Linux/macOS — 32x32 for crispness
+  const pngPath =
+    process.platform === 'linux'
+      ? join(basePath, 'assets', 'icons', 'linux', 'icons', '32x32.png')
+      : join(basePath, 'assets', 'icons', 'icon.png');
+
+  const image = nativeImage.createFromPath(pngPath);
+
+  // Resize to 16x16 for system tray standard size
+  return image.resize({ width: 16, height: 16 });
+}
+
+function buildContextMenu(options: SystemTrayOptions, runningCount: number): Electron.Menu {
+  const statusLabel =
+    runningCount > 0 ? `${runningCount} session${runningCount > 1 ? 's' : ''} running` : 'No active sessions';
+
+  return Menu.buildFromTemplate([
+    { label: 'Open Aryx', click: options.onShowWindow, type: 'normal' },
+    { type: 'separator' },
+    { label: 'Quick Scratchpad', click: options.onCreateScratchpad, type: 'normal' },
+    { type: 'separator' },
+    { label: statusLabel, enabled: false, type: 'normal' },
+    { type: 'separator' },
+    { label: 'Quit', click: options.onQuit, type: 'normal' },
+  ]);
+}
+
+export class SystemTray {
+  private tray: TrayType | null = null;
+  private options: SystemTrayOptions;
+  private runningCount = 0;
+
+  constructor(options: SystemTrayOptions) {
+    this.options = options;
+  }
+
+  create(): void {
+    if (this.tray) return;
+
+    const icon = resolveTrayIcon();
+    this.tray = new Tray(icon);
+    this.tray.setToolTip('Aryx');
+    this.tray.setContextMenu(buildContextMenu(this.options, this.runningCount));
+
+    this.tray.on('click', () => {
+      this.options.onShowWindow();
+    });
+  }
+
+  updateRunningCount(workspace: WorkspaceState): void {
+    const count = workspace.sessions.filter((s) => !s.isArchived && s.status === 'running').length;
+    if (count === this.runningCount) return;
+
+    this.runningCount = count;
+    this.tray?.setContextMenu(buildContextMenu(this.options, count));
+
+    const tooltip = count > 0 ? `Aryx — ${count} running` : 'Aryx';
+    this.tray?.setToolTip(tooltip);
+  }
+
+  isMinimizeToTrayEnabled(workspace: WorkspaceState): boolean {
+    return workspace.settings.minimizeToTray === true;
+  }
+
+  dispose(): void {
+    this.tray?.destroy();
+    this.tray = null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Intercept window close to hide to tray instead of quitting, when the setting is enabled.
+ * Returns true if the close was intercepted (window hidden), false if it should proceed normally.
+ */
+export function setupCloseToTray(
+  window: Electron.BrowserWindow,
+  getMinimizeToTray: () => boolean,
+): void {
+  let forceQuit = false;
+
+  // On macOS, Cmd+Q triggers before-quit before the close event
+  app.on('before-quit', () => {
+    forceQuit = true;
+  });
+
+  window.on('close', (event) => {
+    if (forceQuit) return;
+
+    if (getMinimizeToTray()) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      window.hide();
+
+      // On macOS, also hide from the dock when minimized to tray
+      if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
+        app.dock?.hide();
+      }
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Show and focus the main window, restoring from tray if hidden.
+ */
+export function showAndFocusWindow(): void {
+  const windows = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
+  const mainWindow = windows[0];
+  if (!mainWindow) return;
+
+  // On macOS, show the dock icon again
+  if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
+    app.dock?.show();
+  }
+
+  if (mainWindow.isMinimized()) {
+    mainWindow.restore();
+  }
+
+  mainWindow.show();
+  mainWindow.focus();
+}

src/preload/index.ts

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ const api: ElectronApi = {
   setTheme: (theme) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.setTheme, theme),
   setTerminalHeight: (input) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.setTerminalHeight, input),
   setNotificationsEnabled: (enabled) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.setNotificationsEnabled, enabled),
+  setMinimizeToTray: (enabled) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.setMinimizeToTray, enabled),
   saveMcpServer: (input) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.saveMcpServer, input),
   deleteMcpServer: (serverId) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.deleteMcpServer, serverId),
   saveLspProfile: (input) => ipcRenderer.invoke(ipcChannels.saveLspProfile, input),
@@ -95,6 +96,12 @@ const api: ElectronApi = {
     ipcRenderer.on(ipcChannels.sessionEvent, handler);
     return () => ipcRenderer.off(ipcChannels.sessionEvent, handler);
   },
+  onTrayCreateScratchpad: (listener) => {
+    const handler = () => listener();
+
+    ipcRenderer.on(ipcChannels.trayCreateScratchpad, handler);
+    return () => ipcRenderer.off(ipcChannels.trayCreateScratchpad, handler);
+  },
 };
 
 contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('aryxApi', api);

src/renderer/App.tsx

@@ -485,6 +485,13 @@ export default function App() {
     }
   }, [api, workspace]);
 
+  // Listen for tray "Quick Scratchpad" action
+  const scratchpadRef = useRef(handleCreateScratchpad);
+  scratchpadRef.current = handleCreateScratchpad;
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return api.onTrayCreateScratchpad(() => scratchpadRef.current());
+  }, [api]);
+
   const projectForSettings = useMemo(
     () => workspace?.projects.find((p) => p.id === projectSettingsId),
     [workspace?.projects, projectSettingsId],
@@ -638,6 +645,8 @@ export default function App() {
         onSetTheme={(theme) => void api.setTheme(theme)}
         notificationsEnabled={workspace.settings.notificationsEnabled !== false}
         onSetNotificationsEnabled={(enabled) => void api.setNotificationsEnabled(enabled)}
+        minimizeToTray={workspace.settings.minimizeToTray === true}
+        onSetMinimizeToTray={(enabled) => void api.setMinimizeToTray(enabled)}
         onOpenAppDataFolder={() => void api.openAppDataFolder()}
         onResetLocalWorkspace={async () => {
           const fresh = await api.resetLocalWorkspace();

src/renderer/components/SettingsPanel.tsx

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ interface SettingsPanelProps {
   onSetTheme: (theme: AppearanceTheme) => void;
   notificationsEnabled: boolean;
   onSetNotificationsEnabled: (enabled: boolean) => void;
+  minimizeToTray: boolean;
+  onSetMinimizeToTray: (enabled: boolean) => void;
   onOpenAppDataFolder: () => void;
   onResetLocalWorkspace: () => Promise<void>;
   onResolveUserDiscoveredTooling?: (serverIds: string[], resolution: 'accept' | 'dismiss') => void;
@@ -122,6 +124,8 @@ export function SettingsPanel({
   onSetTheme,
   notificationsEnabled,
   onSetNotificationsEnabled,
+  minimizeToTray,
+  onSetMinimizeToTray,
   onOpenAppDataFolder,
   onResetLocalWorkspace,
   onResolveUserDiscoveredTooling,
@@ -265,6 +269,8 @@ export function SettingsPanel({
                 onSetTheme={onSetTheme}
                 notificationsEnabled={notificationsEnabled}
                 onSetNotificationsEnabled={onSetNotificationsEnabled}
+                minimizeToTray={minimizeToTray}
+                onSetMinimizeToTray={onSetMinimizeToTray}
               />
             )}
             {activeSection === 'connection' && (
@@ -327,12 +333,16 @@ function AppearanceSection({
   onSetTheme,
   notificationsEnabled,
   onSetNotificationsEnabled,
+  minimizeToTray,
+  onSetMinimizeToTray,
 }: {
   theme: AppearanceTheme;
   onSetTheme: (theme: AppearanceTheme) => void;
   notificationsEnabled: boolean;
   onSetNotificationsEnabled: (enabled: boolean) => void;
-}) {
+  minimizeToTray: boolean;
+  onSetMinimizeToTray: (enabled: boolean) => void;
+}){
   return (
     <div>
       <div className="mb-1">
@@ -397,6 +407,30 @@ function AppearanceSection({
         </div>
         <ToggleSwitch enabled={notificationsEnabled} />
       </button>
+
+      {/* System Tray */}
+      <div className="mt-8 mb-1">
+        <h3 className="font-display text-[13px] font-semibold text-[var(--color-text-primary)]">System Tray</h3>
+        <p className="mt-0.5 text-[12px] text-[var(--color-text-muted)]">
+          Control how Aryx behaves when you close the window
+        </p>
+      </div>
+
+      <button
+        className="mt-4 flex w-full items-center justify-between rounded-lg border border-[var(--color-border)] px-4 py-3 text-left transition hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-3)]/40"
+        onClick={() => onSetMinimizeToTray(!minimizeToTray)}
+        type="button"
+      >
+        <div>
+          <span className="text-[13px] font-medium text-[var(--color-text-primary)]">
+            Minimize to tray on close
+          </span>
+          <p className="text-[12px] text-[var(--color-text-muted)]">
+            Keep Aryx running in the system tray when you close the window instead of quitting
+          </p>
+        </div>
+        <ToggleSwitch enabled={minimizeToTray} />
+      </button>
     </div>
   );
 }

src/shared/contracts/channels.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export const ipcChannels = {
   setTheme: 'settings:set-theme',
   setTerminalHeight: 'settings:set-terminal-height',
   setNotificationsEnabled: 'settings:set-notifications-enabled',
+  setMinimizeToTray: 'settings:set-minimize-to-tray',
   saveMcpServer: 'tooling:mcp:save',
   deleteMcpServer: 'tooling:mcp:delete',
   saveLspProfile: 'tooling:lsp:save',
@@ -54,4 +55,5 @@ export const ipcChannels = {
   workspaceUpdated: 'workspace:updated',
   sessionEvent: 'sessions:event',
   getQuota: 'sidecar:get-quota',
+  trayCreateScratchpad: 'tray:create-scratchpad',
 } as const;

src/shared/contracts/ipc.ts

@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ export interface ElectronApi {
   setTheme(theme: AppearanceTheme): Promise<WorkspaceState>;
   setTerminalHeight(input: SetTerminalHeightInput): Promise<WorkspaceState>;
   setNotificationsEnabled(enabled: boolean): Promise<WorkspaceState>;
+  setMinimizeToTray(enabled: boolean): Promise<WorkspaceState>;
   describeTerminal(): Promise<TerminalSnapshot | undefined>;
   createTerminal(): Promise<TerminalSnapshot>;
   restartTerminal(): Promise<TerminalSnapshot>;
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ export interface ElectronApi {
   onTerminalExit(listener: (info: TerminalExitInfo) => void): () => void;
   onWorkspaceUpdated(listener: (workspace: WorkspaceState) => void): () => void;
   onSessionEvent(listener: (event: SessionEventRecord) => void): () => void;
+  onTrayCreateScratchpad(listener: () => void): () => void;
 }
 
 export interface RendererSelectionState {

src/shared/domain/tooling.ts

@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ export interface WorkspaceSettings {
   discoveredUserTooling: DiscoveredToolingState;
   terminalHeight?: number;
   notificationsEnabled?: boolean;
+  minimizeToTray?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface SessionToolingSelection {
@@ -206,6 +207,8 @@ export function normalizeWorkspaceSettings(settings?: Partial<WorkspaceSettings>
     },
     discoveredUserTooling: normalizeDiscoveredToolingState(settings?.discoveredUserTooling),
     ...(terminalHeight !== undefined ? { terminalHeight } : {}),
+    ...(settings?.notificationsEnabled !== undefined ? { notificationsEnabled: settings.notificationsEnabled } : {}),
+    ...(settings?.minimizeToTray !== undefined ? { minimizeToTray: settings.minimizeToTray } : {}),
   };
 }